2014 Toyota Rav4 Review – Ideal for Singles & Small Families

When it come to mainstream crossover vehicles (also known as CUVs), few can deny the popularity of the Rav4. With a compact build and coming from a trusted manufacturer, many small families have found this to be a perfect for them. The 2014 Toyota Rav4 continues to offer families comfort and functionality, while adding tech features to sweeten the deal.

One-week vehicle loan was provided for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Unexpected 2014 Toyota Rav4 Review

My husband and I owned a a compact SUV from another company and I just figured the Rav4 would present a similar experience. However, upon getting in, I found that the Rav4 sits much lower than other SUVs I’ve driven. It was higher than a typical sedan but didn’t feel like a crossover at all. That said, it’s quite easy to get used to driving it. I loved the adjustable height power lift gate, as I’m sure many petite people will. As for room, there’s a good amount of space all around.

You know that that extra hum your vehicle might make as it’s exerting extra effort to climb an incline? Yeah, that how the Rav4 sounded all the time. The 2.5L engine should have provided plenty of power but, for some reason, it was as if there was a barely audible “I think I can” constantly being whispered by the engine.

I was glad to see that the Rav4 offered several features like blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, auto high beams, and dual climate control. The center control panel still needs an update but at least it’s a bit more refined than the 4Runner. The interior feels very simple and uncluttered. The rear camera gave a clear display but would disappear if you pressed any buttons on the screen. That was a bit bothersome.

The 2014 Toyota Rav4’s Appeal

The 2014 Toyota Rav4 Limited was not a highly innovative, ground-breaking model but it provided a solid drive. Small families and even women without kids will be happy with this as a smart purchase but will likely miss the usual benefit of riding higher that other crossovers offer. As for cost, it’s not bad considering it’s a Toyota and that it gets an average of 25 mpg. However, I would love to see a re-design as the new Highlander shows what potential lies in future Toyota models.